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What Are The Risks Of Developing An Infection From An Infected Cat?
Question: Good evening, Dr.
We have a cat( one of the cats), she is allergic to a lot of things and due to that she has post secondary infections, ongoing. She sneezes a lot, has a lot of discharge. Vet cultured the discharge to see what bacteria she is growing and it is Pasteurellosis. We have 17 months old baby, is there any risk that this will be transmitted to my son? what do you think how high is that risk or how high the chances are that he might get that infection from the cat. Thank you!
We have a cat( one of the cats), she is allergic to a lot of things and due to that she has post secondary infections, ongoing. She sneezes a lot, has a lot of discharge. Vet cultured the discharge to see what bacteria she is growing and it is Pasteurellosis. We have 17 months old baby, is there any risk that this will be transmitted to my son? what do you think how high is that risk or how high the chances are that he might get that infection from the cat. Thank you!
Brief Answer:
High risk of Transmission.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Thanks for posting your query.
Pasteurellosis is a bacterial infection usually seen in Cats, Dogs and Cattles. It is a communicable disease. Humans who have intimate contact with the infected animals can get the disease very easily.
That too, young babies are at higher risk of getting the disease. Most of the times infections get transmitted by bites or scratches on the skin but apart from that if the respiratory secretion comes in contact with kids hands or mouth or nose then there is a high chance of kid getting the disease .
Since you have mentioned that the cat was sneezing a lot , I think there is a high chance of transmission presently and also there is a high probability that the kid (even the other members of family) could have already got it. Again it depends on the contact of kid with the child.
Are there any symptoms like Fever, Irritability, Change of voice, Cough, Cold or Skin rashes in the child? Kindly let me know .
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask.
Regards.
High risk of Transmission.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Thanks for posting your query.
Pasteurellosis is a bacterial infection usually seen in Cats, Dogs and Cattles. It is a communicable disease. Humans who have intimate contact with the infected animals can get the disease very easily.
That too, young babies are at higher risk of getting the disease. Most of the times infections get transmitted by bites or scratches on the skin but apart from that if the respiratory secretion comes in contact with kids hands or mouth or nose then there is a high chance of kid getting the disease .
Since you have mentioned that the cat was sneezing a lot , I think there is a high chance of transmission presently and also there is a high probability that the kid (even the other members of family) could have already got it. Again it depends on the contact of kid with the child.
Are there any symptoms like Fever, Irritability, Change of voice, Cough, Cold or Skin rashes in the child? Kindly let me know .
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
The cat has this for more then 2 years, my son is 17 months old & he has always been in close contact with that cat. Tell me then why 2 veterinary Dr's told me it's no risk, it's more harm to cat vs chances of human to get sick?
Brief Answer:
Risk is there unless the cat is cured.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
It is true that the disease is more harm to the cat than to humans.
But I won't accept that there is no risk of transmission. Yes most of the transmission happens by animal bites and nearly 50% of cat bites can lead to infection on humans, there the possibility of transmission by exposure to respiratory secretions of animals is also documented ( though the chances are less )
Don't know why veterinarian doctors said there is no risk at all. Yes if the cat has been started on treatment then the risk is less.
Hope this clarifies your doubt.
Any further clarification feel free to ask.
Risk is there unless the cat is cured.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
It is true that the disease is more harm to the cat than to humans.
But I won't accept that there is no risk of transmission. Yes most of the transmission happens by animal bites and nearly 50% of cat bites can lead to infection on humans, there the possibility of transmission by exposure to respiratory secretions of animals is also documented ( though the chances are less )
Don't know why veterinarian doctors said there is no risk at all. Yes if the cat has been started on treatment then the risk is less.
Hope this clarifies your doubt.
Any further clarification feel free to ask.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
They told me risk is very low, that I should not be over stressed about it. It is very rare that it transfered to humans via sinus infections. Cat was on one set of antibiotic but infection came back. What is the best antibiotic for this bacteria? Infection?
Brief Answer:
Don't worry if the kid has no symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
See, if your child doesn't have any symptoms then there is no need to be over stressed but avoid further contact of child with the cat .
Best Antibiotic is Pencillin group of antibiotics , alternatives are Doxycycline or Macrolides. The duration of treatment has to be for 14 days and before stopping the treatment , a repeat culture of secretions or blood has to be done and ifit still grows Pasteurella the course of antibiotic has to be extended further.
Also check if the Cat is in contact with any other cat ( or animal ) which might be habouring the infection and transmitting to your cat.
Regards.
Don't worry if the kid has no symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
See, if your child doesn't have any symptoms then there is no need to be over stressed but avoid further contact of child with the cat .
Best Antibiotic is Pencillin group of antibiotics , alternatives are Doxycycline or Macrolides. The duration of treatment has to be for 14 days and before stopping the treatment , a repeat culture of secretions or blood has to be done and ifit still grows Pasteurella the course of antibiotic has to be extended further.
Also check if the Cat is in contact with any other cat ( or animal ) which might be habouring the infection and transmitting to your cat.
Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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